State agency drops opposition to U2 guitarist's Malibu project in exchange for $1 million, services

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: Los Angeles Times

The state planning agency that oversees open space in the Santa Monica Mountains will drop its opposition to a controversial bid by U2 guitarist The Edge to build a compound of homes above Malibu in exchange for more than $1 million in funding, consulting services and trail easements from the musician and his partners.

In a deal with the Irish rocker narrowly approved this week, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy agreed to take a neutral position on the high-profile project in exchange for a $750,000 payment, $250,000 worth of work by a consultant who works for the musician, conservation easements and development restrictions around the homes that would eventually allow a short length of trail to be built through a sliver of the property.

The Edge -- a.k.a. David Evans -- has been fighting for permits to build five mansions, including his own, on Sweetwater Mesa since 2006, when he and his wife bought the 156-acre property.

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/u2-edge-malibu.html

[U4ikLefty]

1. Bono should kick him in the nuts.

Rich folks love to keep the beautiful Malibu coastline to their greedy selves

[bengalherder]

2. Bono?

He of the Irish Estate and Forbes magazine fame?

One of those CA mansions will probably be his.

U2 sadly lost their way a while back.

[DCKit]

3. And here I though extortion was (still) illegal.

I'm so naive.

Oh well, it's just matter of time before some, or all, of those mansions slide down the hill to become beachfront homes.